“He gets a big drop in weight from last start and it’s over 1400 metres, his pet distance,” the trainer added.

“It really looks a nice race for him.”

Symposium, by Clang, bred and owned by Eric and Ida Bennett from Woolgoolga, scored impressively two starts back in a 1400m event at Eagle Farm on January 22 sweeping around the field on straightening and going right on with the job.

Last start the six-time winning four-year-old, after a three-week freshen up, disappointed finishing 5.8 lengths seventh to Koranovsky in a 1500m Class 6 handicap at the same track on February 12.

“He drew inside and Jason (Taylor) said he wouldn‘t stretch out inside other horses cluttered up,” the veteran trainer said.

“He may have been ridden a little handier than he prefers too but they walked up front. He just didn’t finish the race off as we expected.

“He pulled up good. In fact looks better now than he has this whole preparation.

“His work Tuesday was very good. I can’t fault the horse.

“He’s a horse that doesn’t need a lot of work, better on the fresh side.

“He’s fit and if he handles Armidale he’s going to take a power of beating.

“Hopefully there‘s pace on. He gets home hard when many of the others are stopping.”

Symposium’s dam Blue Valley has been a wonderful producer for the Bennetts.

“The family goes back five generations,” Hardy said.

“I’ve had a couple by the mare. Blue Valley was pretty smart. She went to Newcastle one day (September 1995) and Eric was confident she could win.

“She got beaten by a horse called Saintly. Eric was disappointed but everyone told him Saintly was pretty smart. How right they were.”

Monday sees Coffs Harbour Racing Club hosting a seven-race TAB meeting with the first race starting at 1.47pm.